Somnambulism (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Charles Brockden Brown
- First Published: 1805
- Type of Plot: Mystery and detective, psychological
- Time of Work: The late eighteenth or early nineteenth century
- Setting: The forest of Norwood, somewhere in the eastern United States
- Principal Characters: Althorpe, Constantia Davis, Mr. Davis, Nick Handyside
- Genres: Short fiction
- Subjects: North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Love or romance, Murder or homicide, Nineteenth century, Jealousy, envy, or resentment, Fear, Eighteenth century, Forests or forestry, Sleep
- Locales: East (U.S.)
The Story
The story begins with an extract from The Vienna Gazette that tells the story of a European murder that parallels the one in “Somnambulism” in every detail. When the narrative begins, the narrator and protagonist, a young man later identified as Althorpe, tells of a dinner party at his family's home. His guest, Mr. Davis, receives an urgent letter calling him away. Though it is late at night, Davis resolves to leave immediately, and his daughter Constantia insists on going with him.
Althorpe becomes agitated at the suggestion. He is in love with...
[The entire page is 1438 words long]
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